Friday, October 30, 2009 Edition






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Crack, Stolen Guns and Immigrants Found in Raid

By Wren Abbott

Published:
Thursday, October 29, 2009 10:51 AM MDT

An inter-agency narcotics task force arrested an alleged El Llano drug dealer, in addition to the Mexican man they believe was supplying him.

A six-month investigation into Fred Archuleta and his suppliers culminated in his arrest Oct. 16 after Region 3 narcotics task force agents and a tactical team executed a search warrant on his West Calle Celestino home. Agents found baggies containing a total of 6.7 grams of crack cocaine and 2.2 grams of powder cocaine behind a couch and behind wood paneling, documents state. Also behind the couch was a sawed-off shotgun. They found a safe containing many prescription pills in unmarked bottles in a bedroom.

Lt. Juan Martinez declined to say whether undercover buys or confidential informants were involved in the lengthy investigation, but said the task force did surveil the house during the investigation.

The task force used a State Police tactical team for backup when executing the warrant because it was considered a high-risk case, documents state. Archuleta had a steel gate to his home, steel bars on his doors and was using cameras to monitor his property, Martinez said. Nevertheless, agents encountered no resistance when arresting Archuleta, Martinez said.

About an hour later, around 9:30 p.m. Oct. 16, agents executed a warrant on Archuleta’s alleged supplier at his Prince Drive home and simultaneously did a “knock and talkâ€